About 75,000 people attended Fieldays in 2022 - considerably down on the 130,000 visitors that organisers were hoping for. Photo: Fieldays / Supplied
About 75,000 people attended Fieldays this year - a big drop on the more than the 130,000 organisers were hoping for.
The agricultural event held on at Mystery Creek on the outskirts of Hamilton is normally held in June but was pushed to late November this year due to Covid traffic light systems.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation said organisers expected a reduced attendance.
"Due to the timing, lower confidence levels in the economy and supply chain issues still evident for many. These impacts are amplified by lower staffing levels, and ever present Covid which unfortunately, despite the postponement decision to ease this concern, hasn't gone away.
"We are living in very challenging times, and I think our event may have reflected these challenges."
Fieldays was held in November rather than June this year due to Covid, but organisers say it will return to its usual spot next year. Photo: Fieldays / Supplied
From early discussions with exhibitors it appeared as though many had seen genuine sales, along with positive discussions and had enjoyed the very focused interactions with the visitors, that may not have transpired with the traditional larger scale event, he said.
"Early indications show that we had a large new audience attend the event, which is great. We know many people do not come every year and for some returning after a break of some five years, they were surprised to be able to interact with such a vast, and sometimes new exhibitor group as well."
Nation thanked those who came out to support the one-off summer event but said Fieldays would return to its normal winter, June spot next year.
